Khao San Road will reopen to trade at the end of next month with more vendors and promotional events lined up to pull in local crowds.

The small street, popular with foreign tourists, has experienced one of its biggest slumps since the Covid-19 pandemic forced border closures. With tourist arrivals down to zero, City Hall has decided it will spur business along the street by drawing in Thais and expats, according to deputy governor Sakoltee Phattiyakul.



He said foreign tourists make up 90% of visitors to Khao San Road. Now that the slump is set to continue, with foreign tourist numbers showing no signs of recovery, local visitors will replace them.



More vendors will be added and cater to the tastes and demands of local people. Promotional events will be held every month to attract visitors to the road.

Surrounding areas, including Klong Chong Nonsi, will be spruced up and developed into a tourist attraction, according to Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang.

The landscape around the canal, which cuts through Bang Rak, Sathon and Yannawa districts, will be improved and turned into a place visitors will want to go, he said.

The canal has been clogged with weeds and rubbish and a total of 250 City Hall workers were directed recently to clean it up.